Inside the New York Yankees clubhouse with MLB.com beat writer Bryan Hoch.

Gardner fractures thumb; placed on disabled list

Yankees outfielder Brett Gardner has been placed on the 15-day disabled list with a fractured left thumb and will be wearing a cast for approximately two weeks.

Gardner injured the thumb while sliding into second base in the first inning of Saturday’s 6-4 loss to the A’s, catching it on the base (see accompanying photo). While it bothered him throwing, he felt little while hitting – he drove in New York’s first run with an RBI triple after the injury. X-rays taken after the game revealed the fracture.

Melky Cabrera will continue as the Yankees’ starting centerfielder, and now they have to consider if promoting Austin Jackson from Triple-A is the move to make (especially if they can’t offer him regular playing time).

“It’s not something that we’ve talked about at this point,” Joe Girardi said. “Obviously, the guy that probably comes up is not going to be an everyday player. To bring up a guy like Austin Jackson and sit him on the bench right now, I’m not sure how much sense that would make. We’re going to talk about it.”

Johnny Damon can play center field in a pinch and Nick Swisher has done it before, but the Yankees don’t want to see that on a regular basis. For the moment, Jonathan Albaladejo is here. The Yankees thought they might need some extra help in the bullpen behind Sergio Mitre.

5 Comments

Cashman should go for Cliff Lee who is more affordable and a reliable 4/5th starter. Give Melky the chance to be a full time centre fielder. (We can go for Matt Holliday when he is a scott Boras represented free agent…)

OUCH losing Gardner hurts. Looks like the pen is going to get a workout today. Sergio might not get out of the 1st inning, and is proving he’s a AAA pitcher. Well this two game experience with him as a starter proves one thing. Crashman better be working the phones for a starter NOW. Wang is DONE for the year and Sergio doesn’t cut it. Get another starter by the trade deadline Crashman.

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